The head of the defense committee in the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann of the ruling Free Democratic Party, criticized Olaf Scholz's government for delaying the decision to provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 main battle tanks.
She reported this in an interview with RND.
"The chancellor's refusal to provide tanks to Ukraine in its struggle for survival is not only incomprehensible, but also disturbingly short-sighted. The situation, especially for the Ukrainian civilian population, is catastrophic. I am very sorry for the excuses as to why we cannot supply tanks. Especially when I hear , that the supply of tanks would be a special provocation for Russia," Strack-Zimmerman said.
She recalled that Germany had already successfully supplied self-propelled howitzers, anti-aircraft guns, artillery systems and highly effective anti-aircraft systems that had saved thousands of lives.
"Anyone who fantasizes about fears that a red line will be crossed with Russia is telling the story of the aggressor, not the victims," Strack-Zimmerman said.
"It is Scholz's advisers who are obviously pushing the chancellor to block the supply of battle tanks and armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. Ultimately, however, the responsibility rests with the chancellor of the Federal Republic. I think this refusal is a very big mistake. It makes me angry when I look back at the last few months and see what absurd discussions we've had. How long it's been since we could have helped," she said.
According to her, winter is the time when the Ukrainian military could undergo training on Western tanks, so that they could be handed over to Ukraine and have results on the battlefield in a few weeks.
"Russia will not stop terror against Ukraine. Germany must develop a scenario with its partners on how to continue support in the coming months. It is necessary to act, not just react. It is necessary to preemptively supply materials to places where their shortages are already occurring. Ammunition and spare parts are already valuable . goods will continue to be an urgent necessity," stressed Strack-Zimmerman.
In her opinion, the big problem is that Germany does not have a strategy for Ukraine: "Always responding to Ukrainian calls for help is not a long-term strategy."
Earlier it was reported that a large part of German citizens are against the supply of Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine.
Ukraine has been demanding Leopard 2 tanks from Germany for more than a month. The German government does not want to supply Leopard and Marder to Ukraine until such tanks are provided by other partners. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly emphasized that there will be no national initiatives in this matter.